Styal Prison and Young Offender Institution
Styal is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Wilmslow, Cheshire, for women aged 18 and over.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Styal
To visit someone in Styal you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list (only the prisoner can add you to or remove you from their visitor list)
- book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
- have the the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Styal.
Contact Styal if you have any questions about visiting.
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have a health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- travel to Styal
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6512
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2pm to 4pm (maximum of 14 prisoners)
- Friday: no visits
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am (open house only) and 2pm to 4pm (maximum of 14 prisoners)
Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before your booked time slot.
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits can be booked by emailing: hmppsvisitbooking@justice.gov.uk
Legal Visits (Face to Face) are:
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am to 10:30am and 10:45am to 11:45am
- Prison video Legal visits can also be booked using the above email address – these are available Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 5pm
Getting to Styal
The closest railway stations are:
- Styal Station - a 10 minute walk to the prison
- Wilmslow Station - a 5 minute taxi ride to the prison
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a car park at the prison. Parking is limited and there are no designated spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Styal
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors will need to be given a rub-down search, including children.
No cash is allowed inside the prison. You will need to leave any valuables in a locker before entering the visitor area.
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors centre run by Partners of Prisoners (POPS).
There are no toilet facilities available to use in the visits hall.
Family visits
There are currently no family visits being run.
Keep in touch with someone at Styal
You may not be able to speak with someone at Styal during their first few days. This is because it can take up to 48 hours to approve who they can be in touch with.
One supervised phone call is allowed on arrival in the First Night Centre. If a prisoner has restrictions in place they will not be able to make a call.
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.
If you need to contact someone in Styal urgently, phone the switchboard and ask to speak to the Duty Governor or Orderly Officer.
Phone calls
Prisoners can only phone you if you are named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.
You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.
Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
You can send emails to someone in Styal using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Styal.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.
You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prison number, you can use their date of birth instead or you can find out their prison number.
All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.
Send money and gifts
You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.
You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.
If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:
- are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
- do not have a debit card
This will allow you to send money by post.
Gifts and parcels
Prisoners are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Styal for more information on what’s allowed.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prison number on the parcel.
Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners. For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Styal
Styal is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills and focus on their personal development.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Styal has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.
Styal also has a peer mentoring scheme. Trained prisoners give the other women advice and tell them about agencies that can help them. Some also organise book clubs to help improve reading skills.
Mentors work towards a level 2 qualification in mentoring.
Arrival and first night
When people first arrive they stay in the First Night Centre for up to 48 hours before moving to their accommodation.
They are interviewed by an officer and are introduced to living in custody. The officer will explain the prison rules and they will be offered a hot meal, shower and a phone call to their family or partner.
After that, they will see a nurse who can help with any healthcare needs.
They will be given toiletries and be able to buy a grocery pack or a vape pack. They can borrow money from the prison if they have no cash on them when they arrive.
New prisoners will also meet the duty chaplain, mental health nurse and domestic abuse support worker during their first 48 hours to help with any concerns they might have.
Induction
Each prisoner that arrives at Styal gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:
- health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
- any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
- personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
- other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 480 prisoners live at Styal.
The accommodation is a mix of dormitories and individual cells.
Styal also has a Mother and Baby Unit for prisoners with babies up to 18 months. The unit is run by the Action for Children charity.
Faith services
The diverse chaplaincy team offers weekly services, personal development courses, bereavement support and a quiet space for personal prayer.
Education and work
The education at Styal is provided by Novus and includes:
- English and maths
- hairdressing and beauty
- functional skills
- IT and business admin
- painting and decorating
- horticulture
Prisoners in the Mother and Baby Unit can take part in programmes that support the development of their child. There’s also a crèche so mothers can attend other education classes.
The library, provided by Cheshire County Council, has several computers for learning (without internet access) as well as a range of books, CDs and DVDs.
Prisoners produce a quarterly magazine called ‘Innit’ which received a national award for the quality of journalism in 2006.
Temporary release
Prisoners at Styal can be considered for release on temporary licence. It depends on where they are in their sentence and a thorough risk assessment.
Women can be considered for childcare resettlement if they can show that they were the sole carer of their child before they came into custody and will be again on release. This also depends on a thorough risk assessment.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Styal
Styal works hard to help families keep in contact.
Family services at Styal are provided by PACT..
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01625 553000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01625 553337 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Styal.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Styal in response to independent inspections.
Contact Styal
Governor: Nicky Hargreaves
Telephone: 01625 553 000
Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays, 7am to 5pm
Fax: 01625 553 001
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP/YOI Styal
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 4HR
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Updates to this page
Last updated 14 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated visiting information
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Visits suspended.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated: HMP Styal visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.
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Updated information to include confirmation of secure video calls being available at this prison.
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Updated survey link
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Prison visits update.
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Added link to Styal action plan
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First published.